How Does The Tank Look?

[newfishy]

ok, I had super old super ugly hot neon colored gravel. so I decided to change it out. what do you guys think of it and the lay out of the tank? btw the plants in the back middle are live and I wanted to give them space to grow tall and that area seems to get the best light in the tank.

this is the best pic I could manage to take...tanks a lot more well lit then it seems

 

[OldMan47]

I like the natural color of the new gravel. The low central planting gives a nice proportion to the layout. You could hide the filters by using a piece of black construction paper between the filters and the glass as a cheap background or spend a few dollars on the plastic stuff they sell at the LFS. It would make your platys show up better if the distraction wasn't there.

 

[newfishy]

hmm...I have black construction paper...will be back in a bit

 

[pat3612]

I think that looks really good I have the same in my 20 gal looks more natural I think.

 

[shelaghfishface]

looks really nice, i just did the same thing a few days ago as i had horrible coloured gravel in mine too

nice one

 

[swrzzzz]

looks really nice, i just did the same thing a few days ago as i had horrible coloured gravel in mine too

nice one

Can you change the gravel/substrate without any nitrite spikes?

I am already wondering if I made the right choice with sand and if I should go to gravel.

Its hard to clean sand without sucking it out of the tank !

Steve

 

[newfishy]

well I added the black construction paper along the back, then realised at closer inspection that my two new fishys have ich. so I turned up the temp and added 1 teaspoon aquarium salt. not sure if thats enough salt or not, will go have to go ask if nobody answers that here.

anyways during this I also found 4 fry swiming around in the filter didnt even know I had any at the moment...because I normaly leave nature take its course. well I put these guys in the fry trap in the other tank so my husband can see them when he gets home.

I also just realised that I had put the ugly neon gravel in the 5 gallon because it was bare before...ugh I hope that fish dosnt get ich now...Ill have to vaccum that tank out good too I guess, or just get ride of the neon gravel and let that tank bare again.


as for the mini cycle spikes....I was aleady going threw one because of other stupid stuff...like replacing a leaking tank, and I honestly figured that I am already changing water daily and cheaking levels....might as well do the gravel change and not have another mini cycle down the road.

any advice?

 

[rabbut]

I belive salt is only effective against whitespot (ICH) as a salt bath. This is where you move fish from the infected tank into a bag of sea water for a few minuites untill the spots fall off, or the fish starts to show signs of being about to croak it

Salt can also be damaging to some fish there are better, safer and more effective ways of treating for it. You want a specialised whitespot treatment, such as waterlife protozin, to clear the infection. It will work, for a start, and it is also friendly to almost all fish.

Changing gravel/sand should not caurse a mini-cycle, unless you run a UGF. This is a system where the gravel itself is the filter.

HTH
Rabbut

 

[newfishy]

thanks!

 

[KraKen]

I have that exact same log in my tank! only I ripped wide leafed green-white plant off. I'll probably rip off the others as well once my live plants get big enough.